12/26/21 - Family Letter

 Hey Eve!!!!!!!!!

Nothing much has happened this week that you don't know about.

Christmas Eve felt empty without you!!!!

For Christmas I got Led lights, blank spiral notebooks, sweaters,a pink and yellow hydro flask, a blender, a frother, a blanket, and lotion.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!
- Mari the Bulldosing Fairy!!!

Insead of a letter, I wrote you this

Eve Barlow, a pillar of hope and of love

you were given a mission from God up above

to leave all you knew and to go out and serve

and I miss you, even if you got on my nerves (I needed a rhyme)

but you went and you gave all your heart to the lord

and are serving him with the musical chord

on the midwestern prairies you're planting the seeds

of conversion that even the faithful will need

So I want you to know while your building his kingdom

You're building us all, and you're loved by a Hyrum

Love ya sis.

Sweet Eve,

It was so good to talk to you on Christmas!  I am so thankful that you shared the experience you had about being blessed to see the good you are doing and the impact your mission is having on those around you.  Tender mercy!  You really are doing a wonderful job!  It is evident in how your Mission President trusts you to do the hard things.  I was amazed at your spiritual maturity as you were telling us about how you went about talking to that other Sister Missionary about considering serving a Service Mission.  I loved how you approached that assignment with prayer- praying for an opportunity to bring it up, then praying to know what to say.  You are a wonderful leader.  The best leaders are those who do it HIS way, not their own.  So proud of you!

I wanted to share an experience I had this week (tender mercy for me).  I have had a hard time feeling Christmas cheer this year.  So many are still worried about the pandemic, civil unrest, depression,  and lack of unity (especially in our ward).  I felt that I must have missed something that is needed in order to feel the peace and joy of Christmas.  I decided to watch President Nelson's Light the World with Love message.  I loved how his message seemed to talk about loving people where they are at.  I felt like he was asking us to ask the Lord who we could help turn the light on for.  I thought, "This is exactly what I need to do to feel the Christmas spirit!'  I got a notebook and pen and went to a quiet place to pray and ponder, ready to write down a list of names of those whom I could share His light.  

As I prayed, I was overcome with His love.  In my mind I saw a review of all the things I'd been doing this past month, for our family, for my students, for the YW, for our ward, for our neighborhood.  I saw the faces of those whom I had served and, for the first time, I noticed the light in their eyes; light that was there because of something I'd done.  I couldn't believe it!

As tears rolled down my face, He seemed to tell me that I'd done enough to share the Light of Christ with others this Christmas.  He turned on the Light in my heart!

Tender mercy!

I love you Eve!

Keep up the good work!

 Mom

Millie,

It was great to talk with you on Christmas.  You made an impact on the family with your testimony.  I'm glad you received that confirmation of the good your are doing but maybe not seeing.  It is 100% accurate.

Hyrum seems to be improving.  He had a minor panic attack on Christmas Eve as he realized the MDT review is next weekend.  He does not feel ready. I think we talked him through it.  He has an appointment with the doctor tomorrow to see if he might need some meds to help him.  Your Mom has been struggling the last several weeks.  She is feeling unfulfilled in her music leading calling.  There is no contact with people.  She feels we have a lack of unity in the Ward and as we age she feels we are not needed in the Ward anymore.  She has started looking at homes for sale.  I don't think she wants to move but if she is starting to look . . who knows.  We have decided to control what we can control and start inviting people over each month.  If we can foster unity in our own way maybe we can create unity where there isn't any and help your Mom feel fulfilled at the same time.

It will feel good to have a week off to get some things done.  We have a few things around the house that need to get done.  I also have some things with my calling with the Missionaries that need to get done. I have a lot of ideas but I'm not sure what I can get away with.  

Love you kid!  You are doing a great work.  We are pleased that you like your area and your comp.  Keep doing your part and good things will happen.  Whether you see them or not.

Love,

Dad

D&C 84:44-46